Traffic signal



Sept. 7 1926. 1,598,652

J. A. PARTI-:N ET Al. l

TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed May 7. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet l Sept. 7 1926.

J. A. PARTEN ET AL TRAFFIC S IGNAL e m di w s M Y Nn. MM b. Rm n wkm\\\q @u mlq@ @n MN Y u. mw R 7 N ,1, m. l M UHMWMY l i11\ 11| "IH M d mww mmm, QM m MNR MN .NN QN m. MN @QQ 0N m\ .nw nu n mm- WN M. MK mx Nm,1,01 QW .my wt@ fr Mx Sept. 7 1926.

J'. A. PARTI-:N Er AL TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed May '7, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 5.9 ,5 2.13 /52N ./f. M ll/ YA OZ @ff www.. V 7 w w an 7 w/ n, 5 7 0/ of5. l 5 f/i H ,f7 HW 5w. i 1 m .1 y V 4. v wl F 6) ,d .i Z .fl/N h, /l/ l2\ v, Z Y 5 9 5 f Z5 un Patented Sept. 7, 1926.

UNITED STATES l y1 1.;9assz PATENT oFF-ics.

JOHN A. PARTEN LNDl ROBERT PARTEN, or MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL `Application led May 7,

' cate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring tothe drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspectlve view of an automobile having theinvention applied thereto; v

Fig. 2 is a view principally in horlzontal section taken onthe line 2-2of Fig. 1 with some parts diagrammatically illustrated;

Fig. 3 isa detail view in section taken onthe line 3-3 of Fig. 2, on anenlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a detail view principally 1n section taken von the line 4 4 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view lprincipally in vertical section taken on the line 5-5of Fig. 2, on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 6 is a detail view principally in section taken on the line 6 6 ofFig. 4' i Fig. 7 is a detail view in' section taken on the line 7--7 ofFig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a detail view partly in plan and partly in sectionillustrating the control- .ling valve and the casing.; j

Fig. 9 is a detail view in section taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a detail view in section taken on the line 10-l0'of Fig. 8:and

Fig. 11 is a wiring diagram.

Of the parts of the automobile illustrated, it is only necessary to notethe body 12, cowl 13, instrument board 14, intake manifold 15, vacuumtank 16, pipe line 17 leading from the intake manifold to the vacuumtank 16, and pipe line 18 leading from the gas tank, not shown, to thecarburetor.

The numerals 19 and 20 indicate a pair of axially aligned cylinders, theinner ends of which are axially spaced and`connected by a tube whichaffords avacuum chamber 2l. These cylinders 19 and 20 are formed in ahorizontal pipe 22 which extends under the cowl 13 forward of theinstrument board 14, and its ends terminate at the sides of saidv cowland have secured therein bushings 1923. Serial No. 637,080.

23. Said bushings 23 extend through the sides of the cowl 13 and areprovided with body fittings 24 which rigidly hold the pipe 22 againstendwise or turning movements.

Our invention includes left and right-hand direction indicators that areidentical, the one with the other, and independently operated; and forthe sake of brevity, the lefthand direction indicator will be describedin detail and the parts indicated by numerals while corresponding partsofthe right-hand indicator will be Aindicated by, like prime numerals.

Mounted in the cylinder 19 is a valveacting piston 25 having a taperedinner end adapted to engage a correspondingly formed v cylindrical lampcasing 27 having a lamp socket 28 rigidly secured in the outer end of ahollow rod'29 mounted to slide endwise in the respective bushing 23 andsecured to said piston. The lamp casing 27 is provided with front andrear lenses 30 and 3l, respectively, the latter preferably being red,anda single contact electric light bulb 32, preferably held in the lampsocket 28 by the customary ba onet` joint.

Xtending transversel through the lamp casing 27, rearward of t e lightbulb 32, is a partition 33 having a central light opening 34,'and whichllghtl opening is closed, when the left-hand directionindlcator isretracted, by a gravity-opened shutter 35 to cut off the rear. lens 31from said light bulb.

.This shutter 35 is pivoted at 36 to the partition 33 and provided witha cam-acting extension 37 arranged to engage the respective bushing 23and body fitting 24 duringI the retracting movement of the directionindicator and move said shutter into a position to close thelightopening 34. When the direction indicator is projected, thecamacting extension is moved out of engagement with theV respectivebushing 23 and body fitting 24 and permits the` shutter 35 to open underthe actlon of gravity so that the lamp bulb 32 will illuminate the rearlens 31. The inner end of the .hollow rod 29 extends axially throu h thepiston 25, and its inner end is closed y a plug 38. f

The piston 25 is operated by creating a partial vacuum in the cylinder19 at one end of 'said piston and opening the cylinder i at the lotherend of said iston to the atmosphere.v As one means o thus operating'thepiston 25, a T 39 is substituted for the cus-- tomary L which connectsthe pipeline 17 to the vacuumtank 16,5andf-to .this T is attached a pipe40 which opens into a valve casing 41 located 'ust forward of theinstrument board 14. ounted in the valve ca sing 41 is a rotary taperedvalve 42 having Aa stem 43 rotatablyj'mounted in a detachable cap.44 onsaid'valve casing. A coiled spring 45 encircles the stem 43, iscompressed between the valve 42 and cap 44, and yieldingly holds saidvalve seated.: The valve stem 43 extends through the instrument board 14and is' provided lwith a knob 46 by which it maybe .turned.

Formed in the'ft'op :of the valve casing 41 are three circumferentiallyjspaced radial ports 47 that are open. to they atmosphere,

and in the bottom of said'easing are three' -circumferentiallyfspaced'radial ports 48,-49

and 49. A radial port 50 -is formed in the valve 42 and arranged to'bebrought into registration in an one of the ports 47 by turning saidvalve. his port 50. is provided with two diverging branchports 51 and51', the former of whichisarranged to be brought into registration witheither of the ports 48 and 49, and the'latte'r of which is arranged,

to be brought into registration with either of the ports 48 `and 49 byturning the valve 42. An L-s'haped port 52 'is also formed 1n the valveOne end of this port,.towit,

the one thatextends longitudinally .of said valve 42,- opens into thevalve casing 41 for .commumcation with vthe pipe 40, and the other or-radial endv ofA said port' is arranged to be brought into -registrationwith any one of the ports 48, 49 or 49 by turning the valve 4 2.

A pipe 53 is attached to the valve casing 41 and connects the port 48`with the vacuum chamber 21, and pipes 54 and 54 are ,also attached tosaid valve casing and connect, respectively, the port 49 to the forwardend of the cylinder v19, and the port 49 to the forward end of thecylinder 20. Normally,

the valve 42 is positioned to cause a partial vacuum to be created inthevacuum chamber retracted and in engagement with the'p seats 26.

The valve 42 is yieldlngly held 1n a normal position by a spring pressedfriction p1`n55 mounted in said valve and provided with a conical pointwhich extends into a correspondingly formed seat 56 in the valve casing.This pin 55 also engages a pair of sto pins 57 secured to the valvecasing 4l to 'mit the turning movement upon either side of normalosition. A rubber bumper 58 is placed in t e' outer end of the cylinder19 to cushion the piston '25 lat the limit of its projecting movement toprevent thesame from rebounding'andfj'thereby partially retract thedirection indicator.

To project the left-hand direction' indicator, the knob 46 is operatedto turn the valve 42 until stopped by the engagement of the pin 55 withthe left-hand stop 57.

' This turning of the valve 42 causes the port 50 to re ister with theright-hand port 47, and the ranch port 51 to register with the port 48which opens up the vacuum chamber 21 to atmospheric 'pressure and closesthe cylinder 19, forward of its piston, to atmospheric pressure andopens the same .to the vacuum tank 16 so that a partial vacuum iscreated thereon, and at which time the atmospheric pressure in thevacuum chamber 21 will move the piston 25 outward in the cylinder 19 andthereby project the lefthand direction indicator.

To retract the left-hand direction indicator, the valve 42 is returnedto normal position and thereby opens up the cylinder 19, forward of thepiston, to atmospheric pressure and creates a partial vacuum in thevacuum chamber 21 and cylinder 19, at the inner end of the piston,thereby causing the atmospheric pressure, forward of the piston l25, tomove the same to the inner end of said cylinder. f

The projecting and retracting movements of the ri ht-hand directionindicator are the same as t ose of the left-hand direction indicatorwith the exception that the valve 42 is turned inthe oppositedirection..

To automatically light the lamps 32 and 32 at the time the directionindicators are projected to indicate the direction in which the vehicleis about to turn and put said lights out when the direction' indicatorsare retracted, the following electrical connections from the storagebattery 59 of the vehicle 'or from any other suitablej source otelectrical energy are provided, to wit:

The main circuits 'from the battery 59 are 'indicated by the numerals6() and 6l, the former of which is grounded as indicated, and .thelatter of which, at its outer end, is extended through an insulatingcore G2 and connected to a tubular switch guide 63 which extendslongitudinally within thc vacuum chamber 21. This switch guide 63 issuported and held out of engagement with the walls of the vacuum chamber21 by a pau' of axially spaced insulating cores64 and 64 in saidchamber. The insulating core 62 lill movements of the left-han taperednut 67v and permit the j metal switch ieaeca extends radially from thevacuum chamber 21 intermediately .64 and is mounted in a nipple 165screwed into the pipe 22,

lar 66 inter osed between said pipe and tube;

Said cores have peripheral air ducts.

'The main circuit 61 is in the form of an insulated wire, from theouter'end of'which is stripped the insulation and the bare wire isinserted through a bore in the core 62. To secure the wire 61 in thecore .62, the outer. end of said coreis'longitudinally split and clampedonto said wire b an internally a plied to theouter end vof e inner'endof `thejcore to expose thebare wire 6l same to bear directly on theguide 63. Y

' An automatic main switch 68 in the form 'of a rod is slidably mountedin the left-hand end` of the switch guide 63 and'is yieldingly heldprojected by a coiled spring 69 which encircles said switch guide and iscompressed the nipple 65. 62 is cutaway between a collar on said rod andthe core 64.

The inner end of the main switch 68 is bent laterally'and works through,alongitudinal slot in the guide 63 for engagement with the fixed memberof 'a longitudinally extensive and contractible contact. This whichmember 71 is in the form of a vflattube that has wiping contact with thefixed memv ber 70 during the projectin and retracting directionindicator. The fixed contact member 70 is anchored b extendin the rsamethrough the core 64 an then ben 'ng the same laterally for enga mentwith the switch 68 and. is held in p ace b a ke -72.

When the le -han direction indicator is retracted, thev main switch 68is engaged by the insulatin'gplug 38 inthe piston 25, and is heldretracted, against the tensioof the spring 69; to hold its laterallybent end out of .engagement `with the xed contact member 70., as shownin Fig. 4. The movable contact member 71 extends longitudinally throughthe piston rod 29 and is supported `and held out of contact therewith bymountinto its socket-28, the headed plunger 75 is retracted against thetension of its spring 77 which'yieldingly holds said lamp so that thebayonet joint which connects the same to between the cores 64 and' thetube affording the vacuum chamber 21, and a filler-acting colth yuntil aswitch 68 vfinal retracting movement `-switch guide 63. fixed contactmember 70 is in theform of a b thin flat bar which -is telescoped intothe- `movable member l71 of said contact, and

the la'mp socket will not'release said lamp. The spring 77 hasdirectcontactbetween the binding screw 74 and the plunger 75 andl.Completes -t'he electrical connection between e same.

From the above description it is evident that during the initialprojecting movement of the left-hand direction indicator the automat-icswitch 68 is released as the iston 25 moves awayL from the same and saidswitch moved by the spring 69 into lengagement with the fixed contactmember 7() to complete the electrical connection from the battery 59 tothe lamp 32. It is'likewise evident that the lamp 32 will remain lightedis movedout ofengagement with the fixed contact70 during the 'of thepiston. Further electrical connections are provided for keeping the lamp32 and 32 lighted while driving in the night so thatA they may be usedas side lights or used as parking lights 'by partly projecting thedirection indicators.

These `further connections' include a branch circuit 78 *which extendsfrom the main circuit 61 to with the switch guide 63 and mounted in thecores 64 and 64 an'd held Aparallel to the The outer end of the -ranchcircuit 78 has its insulation stripped therefrom, and the bare wireinserted through a bore in the' core 62 and held in the same manner thatthe main circuit wire-61 is held. The core 62 is `further cut away atits inner end to expose the bare branch wire 78, and which wire bearsdirectly'on the switch guide 79. c l

.Mounted in the left-hand end of the switch guide 79 is an automatic'secondaryl switchv 80 identical with the main switch 68 and heldprojected by a coil spring` 81. When the piston 25 is retracted, -theauxiliary switch 80 is also held retracted against the tension of itsspring '81 vand -is in enga ement with an extension -82 on the mova lecontact member- 71. When the piston 25 is projected, the releasedauxiliary switch 80 1s also projected by its spring 81 and moved untilstoppedby the engagement ofits relay tively short laterally bent endwith the insulating plug 38. Interposed in the branch circuit 78 vis amanually operated switch 83 which is open except when the lamps are usedas side lights or parking lights. Obviously, when the switch 83 isclosed, the circult will be completed from. the battery 59 to the lampv32 when the piston 25 is'in its innermost position, and aty which timethe main switch '68 is open.

a switch guide 79 identical I 32 and 32', thus making the indicatorseasily visible from the rear of the vehicle. Likewise, lthe red lenseswill be illuminated when the direction indicators are projected only aslight distance and usadas parking lights. When the lamps are used asside lights, the shutters are closed so that the red lenses will not bevisible.

. The above described invention` has, in actual usage, proven-highlyeiicient for the purpose had in view, and it only requires a slightmovement of the knob 46 on lthe instrument board to projector retracteither one of the direction signals, and when said signals areretracted, the lamp casings are closely positioned tothe cowl and givethe vehicle a neat and finished appearance.'

It is'important to note that the fixed contact member is anchored in theplug 64, off center, and extends into .the movable contact member. 71which in` turn extends through and is anchored in the plug 38, oficenter, and thereby holds vthe iston 25 from turning inthe cylinder '19,an which piston, through its rod 29, holds'the lamp casing 27 fromturning so that the lenses 30 and 31 are always properly positioned. Ofcourse, the lamp casing'l 27vgis held by the fixed contact member 70 inthe samemanner. f

1.. Atraflic signal `comprising a cylinder and a co-operatlng p1ston,means includin 'a controlling .valve for creating 'a partia vacuum inthecylinder at one end of the piston and for exposing to atmosphericpressure the other endl of the iston and for alternatin the same, and airection indicator arrange tobepo erated by the piston, saidcontrolling-'valve eing normally set so that there is aconstant partialvacuum at one end of the piston fand a constant atmospheric pressure at.the other end thereof to cause said piston to hold the directionindicator inoperative.

2. A traic signal comprising a cylinder and a co-operating piston, meansincluding a controlling valve for creating `a partial vacuum in thecylinder at one end of the piston and for exposin to atmospheric ressurethe other end o the piston an for alternating the same, a directionindicator arranged to be o erated by the piston, and resilient means orstopping the piston at the limit of its movement to render the direction indicator operative.

3. A traflic signal comprising a cylinder, a vacuum chamber havingcommunication with the c linder, a valve-acting piston in the cylin erand normally closing the vacuum chamber thereto, means includin acontrolling valve for creating a parta vacuum in the vacuum chamber andfor opening to atmospheric pressure the cylinder at the opposite end ofthe piston from the chamber and for alternating the same,

and al direction indicator arranged to be operated bythe piston.A

4. A traffic signal comprising two cylinders, a vacuum chamber havingcommunication with said cylinders, a valve-acting piston in eachcylinder and normally closing the vacuum chamber thereto, meansincluding a controllingx valve 'for creating a, partial vacuum in t evacuum lchamber and selective to o en to atmospheric pressure eithercylin er at the opposite end of its piston from the vacuum chamber andfor alternating the same, and two direction indicators arranged to beindependently operated by the-pistons.

5. A tralc signal comprising a'cylinder and a co-operating p1ston, adirection indicator arranged to be actuated by the piston, a valvecasing, a controlling valve in the casing, a main conduit'leading tosaid casing, means for creating a partial vacuum in the main conduit,and branch conduits leading from the valve casing and opening into thecylinder at each end of the piston,`said valve being arranged to connecteither of the branch conduits to the main conduit-to operate the pistonand render the direction indicator o rative or' inoperative at will,

said contro ling valvepbein'g normally set so that there is a constantartial vacuum at one end of theY piston an a constant at-v mosphericpressure at the other end thereof to cause said piston to hold thedirection indicator inoperative.

6. The structure defined in claim 5. in which the valve. is operative too en either of the branch conduits to atmosp eric pressure. v

7. A trailic signal comprising two cylinders, a piston in `eachcylinder, a vacuum chamber. having communication with said cylinders atone of the ends of the pistons, two direction indicators arranged Ato beindependently operated by the pistons, a valve casing, a controllinvalve lnvsaid casing, a main conduit leadmgto the valve casing, meansfor creatin a partial vacuum in the main conduit, an branch conduitsleading from the valve casin tov thevacuum chamber and from the va vecasing to the cylinders at the opposite ends of the pistons from withsaid cylinders at one of the ends of lll said pistons, said pistonsnormally closing .the vacuum lchamber to the cylinders, two

direction indicators arranged to be'independ ently operated by thepistons, a valve casing, a controlling valve in the valve casing, a mainconduit leading to the valve casing, means for creating. a partialvacuum in themain conduit, and branch conduits leading from the valvecasing to the vacuum chamber and frointhe valve casing to the cylindersat the opposite ends of the pistons from the vacuum chamber, said. valvebeing arranged to connect either of the branch conduits to the mainconduit and to open either of said conduits to atmospheric pressure to.independently operate thev pistons and renderthe direction indicators'operative or inoperative at will.

9. A trac signal including a lamp casing having front and rear lensesand a lamp, means for projecting and retracting the lamp casing, and anautomatic shutter in the lamp casing arranged to open when the lampcasing is projected and to close when the lamp casing is retracted'tocut 0H the lamp from the rear lens.

l0. The combination with the body of a motor-propelled vehicle, a traticsignal mounted on said body including a lamp casing, means forprojecting and retracting the lamp casing at oneside of the vehiclebody,

.said casing .having front and rear lenses and a lamp, and an automaticshutter in the lamp casing arranged to open When the lamp casing isprojected and to close when the` lamp casing is retracted to cut olorqthe lamp from the rear lens.

l1. rlihe combination with the body of a. motor-propelled vehicle,. atraffic signal mounted on said body including a lamp casing, means forprojecting and retracting the lamp casing at one side of the vehiclebody, said casing having front and rear lenses and a lamp, and a gravityopened shutter arranged to be automatically closed during the retractingmovement of the. lamp casing to c ut ol3 the lamp from the rear lens.

l2. ln a vehicle, the combination with two cylinders extendingtransversely thereof, and co-operating pistons in said cylinders, oflamps carried by the pistons, said pistons normally holding the lampsclose to the sides of the vehicle to adord side lights, and means foroperating the pistons to project the lamps to aord direction signals andfor retracting the same.

lin testimony whereof we aina our signatures.

JOHN" A, PARTEN.' y ROBERT FAKTEN.,

